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As Nigeria prepares for the conduct of general elections to usher in fresh sets of political office holders across the country, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has visited the Prayer Ground of St. Padre PIO, at St Giovanni Rotondo in Italy, to offer prayers to God for a peaceful 2027 elections and an end to banditry and terrorism in Nigeria.

Answering questions from St Padre PIO TV/ Radio in Italy, Akpabio said, ” we are all from Nigeria. We came to offer prayers and get blessings from God for ourselves, families and our dear country that is currently being ravaged by banditry and terrorism.

” We are here on this prayer ground and we are going home fulfilled, that we were able to touch this Holy ground, drop our intentions which he will take to God on our behalf”.

Akpabio described the ground as a holy one, noting that ” I am very impressed that the place has been well kept. This is a Holy ground. Some people who are here might not even understand the significance of this ground but those of us who are adherents and followers of PIO, believe in his intercessions.”

To further buttress his belief in the efficacy of the name; PIO, Akpabio went down memory lane on how St PIO intereceded for the miraculous healing of his wife, Mrs Unoma Akpabio, after she was 98 percent dead.

According to him, ” My wife was in a comma for six months in a hospital in Germany. She was 98 percent dead. I used the picture of PIO to make a sign of the cross on her, instead of putting-off the life- support machine she was on. She had an operation that went wrong. I cried to Mother Mary; the mother of Jesus Christ and called on PIO to interceed.

” Miraculously, she woke up. That hospital, uptill today, is yet to understand what happened. As someone who has experienced the powers in where I am standing, I can understand it more than anyone else”, he noted.

He stated further that,” this is my 10th time here. When my wife was finally discharged from the hospital, she waited for three months before she could remember my name and those of the children. We are here today, to give thanks to God and to thank PIO for always interceeding for us.

“We honored PIO by giving our son the baptismal name; PIO. We equally established a big academy which we called PIO Football Academy, where we train and offer scholarships to children of the poor from 9 years up to university level, all in memory of PIO. May his soul rest in perfect peace”.

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*****Stakeholders, CSOs Call For Sack Of NAICOM Commissioner

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has widened its probe into the controversial insurance industry recapitalisation exercise, with invitation letters now being issued to other operators beyond the initial petitioners.

A letter dated 3rd September 2026 and addressed to the Managing Director of Linkage Assurance Plc, Mr Daniel Braie, at the company’s Abuja office, 29 Aswan Street, Wuse Zone 3, confirms the expansion.

Titled “Investigation activities letter of invitation – Re: capitalisation exercise in the insurance sector,” the correspondence from the EFCC’s Capital Market and Insurance Fraud Section requires Braie to report for an interview on Thursday, 24th September 2026.

The development comes amid growing pressure on Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), to step aside.

Industry stakeholders and civil society organisations have intensified calls for his immediate suspension or sack, arguing that his continued presence in office while the investigation deepens compromises the integrity of the process.

“The EFCC’s decision to invite other industry players shows this is no longer limited to one or two companies,” a senior insurance executive who preferred anonymity said.

“When the anti-graft agency starts calling in Managing Directors across the sector for clarification on the same capitalisation exercise, it means the net is widening.

“The man at the helm of NAICOM cannot continue to sit pretty as if nothing is happening.”

Another stakeholder, a former senior official in the industry, stated: “The allegations of unlawful one per cent capital injection fees, forced full-capital escrow demands contrary to the law, and questionable consultant payments are serious.

“Expanding the investigation to other operators only strengthens the case for Omosehin to step aside immediately so that the probe can proceed without any perception of interference.”

Civil society groups have been more direct, demanding Omosehin’s removal to sanitise the regulatory agency.

“Keeping the NAICOM Commissioner in office while the EFCC expands its investigation into the recapitalisation exercise is unacceptable,” Salisu Mohammed of the Coalition for Good Governance in Nigeria said.

“We call for his immediate suspension by the Minister of Finance. The regulatory house must be cleaned for public confidence to return.”

Another CSO activist added: “This is about accountability. The moment the EFCC begins inviting Managing Directors of other insurance companies for interviews on the capitalisation process, the Commissioner who superintended that process should no longer remain in charge.

%Suspension is the minimum requirement to sanitise NAICOM and protect the integrity of the investigation.”

As the September 24 interview date approaches, pressure continues to mount on the Presidency and the Ministry of Finance to act decisively.

Stakeholders insist that only the temporary removal of Omosehin will allow a thorough, credible investigation capable of restoring trust in the insurance regulatory framework.

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Former military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar have called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.

The former leaders made the call as concerns mounted over the circumstances surrounding the deaths, which have triggered public outrage, protests and calls for accountability.

The victims were among scores of suspected illegal miners arrested by NSCDC operatives during enforcement operations at mining sites in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026. The deaths were discovered in the early hours of September 17.

The Niger State Government subsequently confirmed that 37 detainees had died in NSCDC custody. Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago declared three days of mourning and ordered an inquiry into the incident.

The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain under investigation.

The NSCDC initially said the detainees were found dead following a suspected disease outbreak, but its national headquarters stressed that no specific cause had been established and that medical and laboratory examinations were required before any conclusion could be reached.

Babangida, in a statement issued on his behalf by Dr Danladi Umar Abdulhameed, described the deaths as tragic and deeply disturbing while extending his condolences to the families of the deceased, as well as the government and people of Niger State.

He commended the state government for constituting a committee of inquiry and commencing medical and forensic examinations aimed at determining the circumstances and actual causes of the deaths.

According to Babangida, the investigative process was necessary to establish the facts and ensure that appropriate action was taken based on the findings.

He urged residents, particularly youths and relatives of the deceased, to remain calm and allow the investigation to proceed, warning against actions capable of escalating tensions or threatening peace and security in the state.

The former military president also expressed hope that the investigation would be conducted transparently and provide credible answers to the bereaved families and the wider public.

Similarly, Abdulsalami described the deaths of the 37 young people as a painful loss to their families, communities, Niger State and Nigeria.

The former Head of State called for an in-depth investigation to establish exactly what happened while the miners were in custody and to ensure that appropriate measures were put in place to prevent a recurrence.

He also urged relevant government agencies and stakeholders to strengthen safety measures at mining sites, particularly for young people whose livelihoods depend on artisanal mining and other economic activities.

Abdulsalami further appealed for calm among affected communities and called on the authorities to provide necessary support to the families of the deceased.

FG Suspends NSCDC Officers, Sets Up Independent Panel
The calls from the former leaders came as the Federal Government stepped up its response to the incident.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed a comprehensive investigation, while the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths.

The government also suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant and 20 other officers pending the outcome of the investigation. The committee has two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report.

The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances of the arrests, the condition of the detainees upon arrival, the conditions in which they were held, medical attention provided to them and other factors that may have contributed to the deaths.

The incident has also prompted broader calls for accountability from civil society and human rights organisations, with groups demanding an independent investigation into the deaths.

Meanwhile, questions have continued to surround the conditions under which the detainees were held. Some survivors reportedly alleged severe overcrowding and poor ventilation, while authorities have maintained that the actual cause of death must be established through proper investigation and medical evidence.

The incident has heightened concerns about the enforcement of Nigeria’s campaign against illegal mining, an activity authorities have linked to environmental degradation and, in some areas, criminal networks. At the same time, the deaths have raised questions about the treatment and welfare of suspects while in state custody.

The independent investigation is expected to determine the circumstances that led to the deaths and identify any responsibility or institutional failures involved.